Marmite Crisis!

Once again the Christchurch earthquakes have disrupted our everyday live's.

Our beloved Marmite is currently suffering a worldwide shortage.

The reasoning? Earthquake damage to a cooling tower at the company's Christchurch factory rendered the nearby Marmite building unsafe. Surely there is another building they could use?

So this whole 'crisis' got me wondering..... I wonder who thought of making a yeast based, black tar-ry substance to spread on toast. So I investigated the 'Birth of Marmite' pretty much it came about in the dark ages (pre 1680) when some dutch scientist found a use for the discarded yeast that's been used to ferment sugars into alcohol

Over the years the process has been refined to get the spreadable goodness we have today.

And of course there is an influx of Marmite on TradeMe now - its just the same as when they took Snifters away (still a touchy subject)

They are selling for ridiculcious prices. One guy is asking $800 for his jar - I don't love it THAT much buddy.

Marmite is definitely one of those pantry essentials that you take for granted until they tell you that you cant have anymore.

I know its not the 'be-all-and-end-all' but it is still a major inconvenience considering Marmite just so happens to be my latest pregnancy craving.

I love Marmite and cheese either in a sandwich or on crackers. Marmite and cheese on toasties is even better!

I was discussing this with one of the ladies at work. My all time favourite use for Marmite is to spread it on luncheon meat!!!! We always had luncheon and Marmite sandwiches for school lunches as a kid - apparently this is weird? Another favourite was Marmite and lettuce sandwiches - again apparently weird.

She then went on to tell me about her favourite Marmite combo, Poached eggs on toast WITH MARMITE! And I'm weird!

What are some of your favourite Marmite combinations??

Maternity Photos

This Sunday me and Cody are getting our Maternity Photos done. We have hired a local 'up-and-coming' photographer to do our photos.

For something different - well not different for me but out of the usual for others - Roxy will again star in the photos. She was also in our wedding photos so its kind of fitting that she is in our maternity photos too.

The photographer asked me to send her through some inspirational photos of the types of photos I like. So I started having a look through good olde Google and found these amazing photos.

I really liked these ones which were more 'horsey' focused and these ones of the couple sitting on the ground with the horse in the background.

I cant wait for our shoot on Sunday, I have a few outfits to use. Watch this space for the final results!

While on my Internet search I also found some real 'beauties' - not 100% sure what these people were thinking, but check these puppies out!


This just doesn't make sense



Play Boy baby - of course totally appropriate!



David Bowie Much?



How appropriate!



For some reason this reminds me of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre!



ON A CHRISTMAS CARD? REALLY?!



I think this COULD be nice .... if she had clothes on!



What a doosh!



I just don't understand the whole leg thing...



Isn't this how she got into this situation?



Does he not scream pedophile!



Redneck wedding anyone?



This also could of been a nice photo......if it wasn't for the stalker in the background!!



Blue rubbish bags? I don't get it...



I'm sorry but there are no words



Hes obviously pretty pleased with himself....she looks like a crack whore .... GOOD SCORE MATE



WALMART!



Wha?

 

Does she know she is having her photo taken?



So what did you get up to in the weekend?

Well I was again army-wifed for the weekend while Cody went fishing. So I decided to do something productive. A few months ago I brought a sewing machine which to be honest I used once and it has sat in the office ever since. So I decided it was time to drag that puppy out and give her a whirl!

Friday I went to Evans's and brought some supplies... hhhmmmm I wonder what that could be??



I brought a few patterns ($120 later :O ) and spent all of Friday night cutting out the paper pattern pieces - God that has to be the worst part of sewing! Cutting out all the paper pieces and then having to cut all the material! This particular project involved the main pieces, lining and padding!

After spending about 3 hours completing all the cutting I then had to iron on the padding to all the pieces - that was all before I could start up the machine. But once I got started I was definitely on a roll and this baby came together before I knew it!

ITS A NAPPY BAG!

With an elasticated side pocket perfect for a bottle (babies or mine :) )

And a Velcro pocket on the other side perfect for cellphone or wallet

Is this photo fuzzy or is it just my bung eyes playing up again?

Under the main flap is a larger pocket for the change mat (which I still need to make up)

Then on the inside are more elasticated pockets for all those extra bits and pieces and a strap with a clip (clip not visible in this photo) for attaching your keys so they are easy access GENIUS!

have been on the look out for a cool nappy bag for awhile. I wanted something cool, functionally but that doesn't necessarily look like a nappy bag. I'm not 100% happy with the outcome of this bag, its a bit flimsy for my liking but I can say I gave it a go and I can always use it as a spare if needed.

A few weeks ago we were visiting some cousins in Wellington. My cousin Mel had her daughter last November and was given a nappy bag at her baby shower which I totally fell in love with!

*Sigh* Its a Babymel (which is quite fitting considering her name is Mel!) it is quilted with little love hearts all over it. Unfortunately it cost $105.00 US :( Maybe the baby shower fairy will get it for me......

Weather Bomb

So the forecast for the weekend was rain. But not just rain - a WEATHER BOMB!! I love how they describe it as a bomb, makes it sound so dramatic and very terriost-y.

The winds reached up to 150km p/h and caused havoc, ripped roofs off houses, blew over trees and brought down powerlines. It was certainly an inside weekend....... if only!

Frances and little Chloe had to go back to Gisborne -ON AN AEROPLANE! We left Masterton with plenty of time to accomodate for the bad weather and got as far as Greytown before I got the text

Air New Zealand flight NZ2230 WGTN > GIS has been CANCELLED

Great.

Rung Air NZ and they were re-booked to the 5.35pm flight so not too bad. We decided to go straight to Steph and Sheps in Stokes Valley and hang out there until the flight time came. We went out for lunch at one of those asian chicken places which suprisingly wasnt that bad.

Then we cracked out the old Monopoly - but this was like no Monopoly I have ever played. We actually had to read the rules!! I KNOW!!

We had to buy 'districts', then build little cities - with schools, power stations and even bad stuff like prisons, dumps etc. Anyway....

This 'weather bomb' caused a hell of a lot of damage - into the millions they reckon. I was a bit worried to see the state of our place when we got home from Wellington but to be honest there was nothing out of the ordinary, a bit of flooding in the garage but nothing major. The horses covers got soaked but they will dry out.

The rest of the country however did not come off as light...

All in all the weekend was very much a "stay-inside" kind of weekend, although they are warning that there is more to come.

Cool.

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

This week marks the 30th week since we created you, and each day that goes by I get more and more excited about meeting you.

You move around a lot now - usually early in the mornings or late at night. There are different movement, the rolling over, the kicking, the flutters and the all scary complete rolly-pollys!! You are so active that you even wake me up some mornings, maybe this is your way of preparing me for the early mornings that are to come? even as I write this letter to you, you are kicking away. It sometimes startles me the force behind your movements. It can feel like you are trying to bust out! Then I'll see a bit bump roll across my tummy as you make yourself comfortable. Your daddy has seen and felt you move a lot more now and this makes him so happy, if only you could see the smile on his face when he feels you...

Your nursery is all ready to go - your daddy even put together your new pram so when you get here we can go out for walks. Boy, our cat, (which you will get to meet very soon) loves sleeping in your nursery and I have had to wash your cot linen multiple times as he leaves his grey fur all over it. His latest possy is the feeding chair. I am sure he will be great company for you when you come.

You are growing so big and strong, it worries me how big you actually are - but at least that means you are healthy and that is all I want.

Everyone says these last 10 weeks are going to fly by, but it seems that it is dragging on - I just cant wait to meet you and see what you look like. I hope you have your daddy's eyes, but not his feet. I hope you have my olive skin but not my poor eyesight.

I still feel nervous about your future. Your dysplastic kidney is shrinking which is excellent news however I still worry about what kind of life you can live. Can you play sport? Will you be able to travel? Can you do everything in life that you want to? there are so many more questions than answers and I struggle to wait the 8 weeks in between specialist appointments to get answers. We get to check up on you one more time on the 5th April 2012 and hopefully you are still doing well.

Keep growing baby, be nice and healthy. Continue to get yourself ready - and remember you need to be head down. We cant wait for you to join us so we can start being a real little family. I love you more and more each day.

Lots of Love
Mummy xox

Cloth Nappies vs Disposables - That Old Debate!

So the whole cloth nappies versus disposables debate has been going on for years! My mother used cloth nappies on me and my sister. You remember those big square bits of material that were folded and pinned?

Although I dont remember the crazy fastener thing on this guy??

Well that isn't the sort of cloth nappy I'm talking about! I'm talking about these!

ARRGGHHHH How cute are these guys?!!

I’d always been interested in the idea of using cloth rather than disposable nappies.  To be honest, my biggest motivator wasn’t about the environment or health concerns – it was about cost.

There, I said it.  It may make me sound like a cold-blooded Scrooge, but if using cloth meant saving money, then I was all for it.  Being kind to the environment was just a bonus, and I’ve seen enough babies live through disposable diapers to realize that they won’t kill you (although I am a bit alarmed by the materials that they’ve found in disposables, but that’s a topic for another day…)

Why use MCN's (Modern Cloth Nappy) you ask? Well there are a number of reasons

1. Environmentally there’s no choice - In NZ we dump 575 million nappies per year in landfills (which are said to take up to 500 years to breakdown) (http://www.zerowaste.co.nz), while cloth nappies can be washed and reused time and time again.
2. Cloth Diapers Are Healthier For Your Baby - Disposable nappies contain the toxic chemical ,Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, skin diseases, and genetic damage, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers.
Trace quantities may even exist in the diapers themselves! Dioxin is listed by the EPA as the most toxic of cancer related chemicals. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT) - a toxic pollutant known to cause hormonal problems in humans and animals. Disposable diapers also contain sodium polyacrylate. If you have ever seen the gel-like, super absorbant crystals in a disposable, then you have seen this first hand. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons because of its link to toxic shock syndrome. No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years. Studies have also been done to show that the chemical emissions from disposable diapers can cause respiratory problems in children. Cloth diapers, on the other hand, are free of the many chemicals contained in disposable diapers.

3. COST - As a general rule, it is almost always cheaper to reuse than to buy new every time, so lets now look at the breakdown...

The cost breakdown based on fulltime cloth nappies.

Cloth nappies for one baby/child

26 Nappies - $710.00

I am using Itti Bittis because I am anal and really like the cute designs but there are cheaper, less effective nappies out there such as the BabyCo ones from baby city. If you used these nappies it would only be $440.70

Wipes

5 pack of re-usable wipes - $12.30

Washing Costs

Many parents will actually wash the babies clothes and nappies all together making their washing process even cheaper.

*Washing $182.50    Detergent $255.50    Dryer $82.50

*Based on Consumer magazines latest findings

• Washing costs are all based on a warm wash every second day using a large top-loading machine.
• Detergent costs based on using one scoop of detergent per wash. (suggested a third to a half of the normal suggested amount on the pack) 
• Drying costs based on using a dryer during autumn and winter and line-drying during spring and summer.  Most parents in NZ line dry most of the year and only tumble dry when absolutely necessary.

Total Re-usable nappies cost = $1,242.80

Disposable Nappy Costing:

273 Packs of Disposables over 3.5 years @ average of $12 ea

Disposable nappy cost = $3276

This total could come from a combination of pull-ups and normal disposable nappies.
No allowance has been made for night nappies that are used after the age of 3.5years. 
A leading disposable brand website stated that it was normal for a child not to be night trained for 2 years after they are trained through the day time. This is based on parents buying budget brands or better brands on special.

Wipes
52 Tubs of Disposable wipes over 3.5years @ $7.15ea - $371.30
39 Refills of wipes over 3.5 years @ $6.89ea - $268.71

Possible Wipes Cost = $640.01

Rubbish collection*112 Rubbish bags @ $3.20 ea = $358.40

*Based on the cost of the Masterton District Council rubbish bags.

Optional Nappy Wrapper

1 Nappy wrapper unit $ 60.00
17 Wrapper refills (to hold up to 6000 disposables) @ $24.50 per refill $416.50 

Nappy Wrapper Cost $476.50

Total possible disposable nappy cost = $4,750.91

So that's $1,242.80 for cloth nappies compared to $4,750.91 for disposables! Now I am no math geek but it doesn't take a genius to figure that one out! Thats a saving of $3,508.11 over 3 years!!!



4. THEY ARE SO DARN CUTE!!!

And because I couldn't resist I ordered this 2 on a whim in the weekend! SSQQQUUUEEEEE

When I mention cloth diapers to my friends and family I was met with SO much skepticism.  A lot of people thought it would be gross, thought that I was crazy, and most certainly thought I would fail.  I have been doing so much research on cloth diapering though, and had found so many moms that loved it for so many reasons.  I tried arguing all of those reasons to the many skeptics... it's greener, it's cheaper, it's healthier, gosh darnit it's cuter.... but skeptics, being who they are, are not easily convinced.

I was meet with "What about the laundry" - I hear having a baby is extra laundry anyway so what a few more items a day to wash in the grand scheme of things?
"How will you deal with the poop?" Guess what... I hear that babies who wear disposable diapers poop too!  And you still have to wipe their bums.  If I'm wrong about that, someone please let me know. 



Now of course our baby isn't here yet - but I have stocked up!  I currently have 36 itti bitti as well as the above 2 baby beehinds (which is well more than is needed!) so I will be sure to give you all a rundown on how I get on with the MCN's.

Baby Buchanan - Update 28 weeks

We had our second specialist appointment at the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic in Wellington on Tuesday 7th February 2012.

We saw a different Doctor this time as our normal specialist only work Thursdays, but we couldnt make it over on Thursday (whole other story!) we saw Dr Tuohy who is actually the head of the unit so that was reassuring.

He seemed reletively impressed in Baby B's progress. The defect kidney had actually shrunk in size which is really good because if it shrinks completely then there will be no need to operate! Hoorah! He also advised that the working kidney is looking good and seems to be functioning well with no reflux and that there is plenty of amiotic fluid (which apparently is another good sign)

So the measurements as they are on 7th February 2012:
Head Diameter = 80.2mm (Average 70mm)
Head Circumference = 284.3mm (Average 270.1mm)
Abdominal Circumference = 266.1mm 9Average 240mm)
Femur Length = 56.3mm (Average 54mm)
Est Fetal Weight = 1618g or 3lbs 9ozs (a 28 week fetus should be 2lbs 2ozs)

So over-all baby is measuring the size of 31 week fetus at only 28 weeks, everywhere except for length.

Well isnt that fun times ahead for me!

There was one good thing which resulted from the scan....... we got to see our babies face!

So we go back at 36 weeks and see our normal specialist - Dr Sangalli who will be able to advise the final oucome, but at this stage it is looking like I will be able to deliver in Masterton and not Wellington which is really good news.

Fore, For, Four

So last year I tried (and failed) at doing like a fortnightly countdown. This year Im am going to  try different things... I blog-stalk a few other blogs so will nick some ideas from them and give it a go.

This week its Fore, For, Four which I stole from Breathe Gently 

4 Things I did 10 years ago (2002):
* Got my first real paying job at Moore Wilsons
* Meet my first love and had my first serious boyfriend
* Passed School Certificate - (it was second attempt but I got there)
* Went to A LOT of parties and learned what being hung over felt like!

4 Things I did 5 years ago (2007)
* Ended a go-nowhere relationship
* Got lead astray by Jemma :P
* Meet my now husband
* Drunk way more than is humanly possible and survived!

4 Things I did yesterday:
* Worked
* Signed up with WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals)
* Grocery Shopping
* Had a bath

4 TV shows I love to watch:
* Teen Mom - all series
* One Born A Minute
* Kardashians (this includes Keeping up with... Kim and Kourtney Take NY..... Khloe and Lamar etc)
* Good olde Shortland St

4 Things I love to do:
* Ride my horse
* Spend time with friends/family
* Scrapbook
* Be in bed!

So there is a quick rundown in the life of me! Thought it was time for a non-baby realated post :)